49ers Add a Genius to Help Mad Scientist

SANTA CLARA —  George Seifert insists it was his idea to bring back Bill Walsh, his former boss. What made it even more appealing was Walsh’s willingness to return as an assistant.

“When I asked Bill, did he again want to be a head coach and he said, ‘No,’ I knew I had my man,” Seifert said Tuesday.

However, a source close to the team said Seifert’s hand may have been forced after several offensive stars, including Steve Young and Jerry Rice, complained to President Carmen Policy that Seifert was tinkering in the offense, including calling plays. They said offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who had been fired twice for taking on head coaches, declined to intercede.

One of Seifert’s calls, the source said, was the first offensive play of the 27-17 playoff loss to Green Bay, in which Young passed to Adam Walker, playing with a broken thumb. Walker fumbled and the Packers’ Craig Newsome returned it for a touchdown.

That wouldn’t be a surprise.

Last year, Seifert, who was defensive coordinator before succeeding Walsh, acknowledged putting in some defensive schemes. But he said that Ray Rhodes, then the defensive coordinator and now the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, challenged him and he backed off.

“Sometimes I act like a mad scientist,” Seifert acknowledged at the time.

This time, Seifert was looking for was an offensive fix for the 49ers, who lost their first playoff game for the first time in six postseason trips under Seifert. Who better than Walsh, who led the 49ers to their first three Super Bowl titles in the 1980s as their head coach.

“They call it the West Coast offense but it’s Bill Walsh’s offense,” Seifert said.

Seifert, who worked as Walsh’s defensive coordinator before succeeding the Hall of Famer in 1989, had vetoed a 1992 plan to hire Walsh as a consultant, but said he was comfortable with the notion now.

Seifert, who has won two Super Bowls in the seven years since succeeding Walsh, said the addition of Walsh wasn’t “something forced down George Seifert’s throat.”

“In fact, it’s probably one of the more exciting, happy times for me since I’ve been a coach here,” Seifert said. “Three years ago, I probably couldn’t have done this, to be quite honest with you. Three years ago, I wasn’t maybe as secure in my own abilities and maybe I’m a little more arrogant now. And if there are some bruises with regards to egos, so what?

“Because ultimately what we’re trying to accomplish here is to put together the best football team possible, and if that means coach Walsh is part of this again, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Walsh, 64, was given the title administrative assistant to the coaching staff. He will work exclusively with the offense and provide advice and counsel to Trestman.

“I’m here to be a mechanic,” Walsh said. “That’s how I started, as a technician. I’m returning to my roots.”

Policy said Walsh would not be involved in personnel decisions, which will remain with General Manager Dwight Clark and other front-office officials.

That’s fine with Walsh.

“What this portrays is a stage of life I’m in right now,” Walsh said. “I don’t have an agenda and I’m not looking to stake out any territory and I’m not looking to make key decisions. The role as I understand it, the role that I basically approved, was that of helping people with their decisions and being a resource for George, Carmen, Dwight, and, of course, the coaches.

“It’s sort of an emeritus position with a little vitality and energy associated with it. I accept this role as an assistant football coach primarily.”

Policy said the notion of bringing Walsh back was discussed extensively last weekend in meetings with owner Eddie DeBartolo, Seifert and Clark.

He said the discussions centered on what went wrong during the 49ers’ season.

“The conclusion we all came up with was at this moment in all of our lives it was very comfortable. We all felt it would work,” Policy said.

Seifert said part of it was a reaction to the way the 49ers’ offense stumbled in the playoff loss to the Packers and a season-ending loss to Atlanta that cost San Francisco the best record in the NFC.

He also said the move shouldn’t be seen as a loss of confidence in Trestman, whose heavy pass play calling was dictated by injuries in the offensive line and the loss of two running backs--Ricky Watters to free agency and William Floyd to injury.

Former 49er center Randy Cross liked the move.

“You got a great offensive coach like that with 20 years experience and he wants to get back into coaching. Do you want him on your side or the other side? I think it’s a great move for the 49ers.”